Author Archives: S.D. Sorensen

Find-a-Friend Friday: Meet Jocelyn

Posted in About Blogs, Find-A-Friend Friday by

Ladies, meet Jocelyn. I first “met” her several months ago when she and Chocolate on My Cranium were co-hosting a month of celebrating the proclamation on the family.  I quickly recognized her as a great mom, good writer, and a downright quality person.  I’m excited you can get to know her now, too.



Hi!  Nice to meet you! My name is Jocelyn Christensen.  I am a 33-year-old wife and mother of three children, ages 5, 3, and 2.  My family and I live in Central Pennsylvania in a small town called Lewisburg.  Honestly, I am at a loss for what to tell you about  myself, since I am way more comfortable being the one asking the questions…but I’ll give it my best shot!  I am excited to be here to kick off Find-A-Friend Friday on Diapers & Divinity!  Thank you, Stephanie, for hosting this fun way to get to know other awesome women out there!

A few things that make me…Me: I am the middle child in a family of five children.  I grew up in a suburb of Cleveland.  My parents taught me the gospel, and the importance of standing by my convictions.  According to legend, I didn’t speak a word until I was three years old.  About that time, my great-grandma came to live with us.  I became her shadow, and under her loving companionship I finally found my voice!  Since then, I have certainly made up for lost time.

I have been accused (by my own sister) of having the sense of humor of Elaine on Seinfeld, the personality of Leslie Knope from Parks & Rec, and that I bear an uncanny resemblance to Giada De Laurentiis, the cook from Everyday Italian (*In my dreams!…although I do wear an apron just about EVERY day!)

In high school, I played just about every sport possible.  I was also a band-geek and a cheerleader.  When I am really happy, I do back hand-springs in my dreams, and for a moment, I can feel the thrill of flipping again!  Dreaming is really important me.

I have always loved to write.  Before becoming a stay-at-home Mother, I worked as a guest booker for CNN, which means that I met, worked with, and interviewed tons of celebrities and politicians on a daily basis.  It was awesome.  I think Motherhood is even more awesome.

I have been truly blessed by the Lord in my life.  In the process of making my dreams come true, he has also given me many opportunities to serve him and others, and for that I am forever thankful.  I believe that the Lord will use each of us to do great things if we let him.

1.     What’s your favorite part of motherhood?

My favorite part of motherhood so far is the growth and changes that I have seen in myself. My children have helped me to reach heights that I never imagined, explore talents that I never knew existed, and brought me more of a creative outlet than I have ever experienced before they came along.  Many people have asked me how I could leave my “dream job” behind to be a stay-home Mom.  What those people do not understand is that because of my children and my choice to stay home with them, I have been able to live my life to the fullest.   Motherhood, like any other job, is what you put into it.

2.     What part of motherhood would you subcontract out if you could?

I would hire someone to do my laundry in a heartbeat…also someone to clean my floors! It would sure take the load off of my butler…aka my husband! 🙂

3.     Name 2 or 3 items on your “bucket list.”  (Some things you’d like to do before you die.)

1.  Publish a book
2.  Overcome my carb addiction
3.  Serve a mission in Brazil

4.     Brag for a minute.  Do it.  What are a few things that you’re pretty good at?

I am pretty good at telling bedtime stories.  I never imagined that I would be, because frankly, I’m self-conscious about looking foolish!  But just the other night, I was totally cracking my kids up with a custom-made story.  My son was laughing so hard.  He begged me to tell it again and he said, “Mom, I’m laughing so hard, I think I am going to throw up!”  Making my kids laugh so hard that they think they are going to blow chunks.  That was truly one of my proudest moments! 🙂

I think that I am also good at finding joy in the  journey.  I want to enjoy Motherhood, so I try to enjoy it, even when it’s a crappy day, and nobody’s lining up to give me an award for being good at my job, I still try my best to find the good.  It’s not always a bed of roses, but I do believe that attitude is everything!
I also LOVE teaching my children about Jesus Christ and his gospel.  This is very, very fulfilling for me…and empowering.

5.     What are you loving lately?

Sitting outside for 10 minutes (at least) a day…searching the sky for the smallest HINT of SUNSHINE.

My nightly bath.  I cannot go to sleep without a good soak.  Even if it only lasts five minutes, this is my Me Time.

The blog Scriptorium Blogorium.  She’s one smart, insightful lady.  I really hope to understand and apply the scriptures someday as well as she does.

6.     Do you have a favorite scripture or quote?  Why?

I live by a few unwritten rules.  One is “Once a friend, always a friend”.  Once you are on my “friend list”, you can’t get away very easily.  I consider everyone who has ever helped me, worked with me, cared for me, mentored me, taught me, or known me to be a friend.  I genuinely care about all of these people in my life.  Once I consider you a friend, it’s hard to shake me!  I once ran against my best friend for class president and won.  Over 20 years later, she and I are still very dear friends.  I try not to let little things get in the way of friendship and loving others.

Another thing I say is “Everyone has their thing…” This is my way of stopping myself when I feel like criticizing something that someone does that I think is lame!  I think everyone has their “thing”…the “thing” is basically their own personal idiocyncracies…and I have them too.  So when I say, “Everyone has their thing,” I am acknowledging that I have some dumb things that I tend to do just like everyone else, so I should shut my mouth about it! 🙂

I have a long-held policy against “Unnecessary Risk”…that is doing anything that could possibly result in bodily injury…especially paralysis.  My sister used to laugh at me, because I wouldn’t even run down hills.  Not that I’m not athletic.  I’m just really careful with my body.  Weird, huh?  I do however take risks when it comes to social situations or professional endeavors.  I think taking risks, such as sky-diving, is selfish and I would NEVER do it!

I could probably go on and on about this question…but instead I’ll refer you to a book that really lit my fire about 10 years ago called Magic Words: 101 Ways to Talk Your Way Through Life’s Challenges by Howard Kaminsky and Alexandra Penney.  It’s a good one!

7.     What do you gravitate toward during your unscheduled time?

Writing…conspiring…blogging, and planning my next big project.

8.     Tell us some of your best mom-tricks  (things you’ve figured out that work well for you).

Slow down.  I came from an industry that measures time in seconds.  Everything happens so fast that they have even adopted a language of communication that conveys meaning in the briefest possible time.  Instead of saying, “Please save that story to run another day,” we’d say, “Kill it”.  Instead of saying, “Please wait, I need to answer this question,” we’d say “stand-by”.

In Motherhood though, you must slow down long enough to really hear and listen to your children.  There are no short-cuts in good communication when you’re a Mom.

9.     What’s something you don’t usually want people to know about you, but that they need to know if they’re going to be your friend?

In addition to being a loud-talker (especially on the phone or when I am excited)…I tend to interrupt a lot in conversation.  It’s soooo rude, but I get really excited when I’m talking with a friend.  I usually interrupt just to AGREE with the person talking.  (I know it doesn’t make sense!)  I rationalize it by saying that I am being an “active listener”.  I TRY not to do it…but it’s a hard habit to break!  I am embarrassed by this habit, but if you are going to be my friend, you need to be aware of it and hopefully understanding of it!!

10. If you were in charge of a girls’ night out, what kind of activity would you love to plan?

I would plan a volleyball tournament…but I’d have to have girlfriends who know how to really play.  I am itching to hit a volleyball really, really hard.  That is something that I miss, now that I am a Mom.  I hate running on a treadmill.  It seems like a ridiculous way to exercise, but that’s what I have to do, since I don’t know that many people who share my love of bump, set, spiking!

11. Friends are great for venting.  What’s been frustrating you lately?

My eating habits.  I am completely addicted to carbs and sugar. I also LOVE to bake for my children…ahem…and for myself.  It’s fun and tasty…and totally counter-productive!  hee hee!  It gets me through stressful days and is a fun bonding activity to do with  my kids.

12. What parts of your testimony are you the most sure of?

I am most sure of the fact that families are forever.  I love the truths found in the Family Proclamation.  Every time I teach the principles found in this inspired document to my young children, my testimony grows.  I am also sure that the world needs good women who are willing to walk away from the world’s expectations and be the Mothers that our children and families need us to be.  Knowing that the Lord will help me do this is very comforting to me.

Tell us about your blog:

I blog about my life as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the ways that I teach my children about Christ, and what the Spirit teaches me through experience at “We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ”.  (http://beinglds.blogspot.com)  I share ideas about teaching children about Christ and strengthening the family.

Currently, I am hosting something that I call Service Boot Camp.  Service Boot Camp is a call for women every where to join together in serving a specific cause.  In past Service Boot Camps, we have raised money for Haiti, made  journals for grieving military widows, and spent an entire month serving others daily.  This month, we are on a mission to write letters thanking people who have helped us or had a positive influence in our lives.  There are giveaways every day, so please join us!

Thanks, Jocelyn!  Isn’t it fun to meet new people? Next week, we’ll meet another new friend.  Watch your email inbox; it might be you!  If you want to get in on the fun, add a comment on this post.  I’ll do a random selection from there every week.

Midterm exams for moms

Posted in Diapers, Divinity by

Have you ever had one of those nightmares where you’re in college and it’s exam time, but you just realized you’re enrolled in a class you forgot to attend the whole semester?  And now you have to take the exam and you are SO unprepared?  It’s a horrible dream.  I always wake up with a tight chest and lingering anxiety.

See this kid?

He is my oldest.  He just turned eight a couple weeks ago, and this weekend he will be baptized.  And I’ve got that same nightmare feeling.  It’s like this is the big test of my motherhood, and I do not feel ready.  My time for preparing him to make major covenants and lead a life of free agency is over.  (I know this is a little exaggerated and melodramatic, but hello?  Eight already?  Gah.)

And remember how I said before that I think Satan gets a free 90-day trial before their baptism? I’m sure of it.  He and I have been at odds lately. (Grant and I, not Satan and I.  Maybe.) At odds.  He has been pushing all my buttons, and I’ve felt angry and exasperated and thoroughly convinced that I have somehow failed at preparing him for this major event in his life.  Oh, he knows lots and lots of things about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the promises he’ll be making, and what it all means.  But he’s still just a punk little kid who makes me want to put him in time-out until he’s 18.  Evidence:

“I think this family is dumb.  I think your dumb too.  I wish this family didn’t even exist.  Hate, Grant” (Note he penned on a paper towel and then handed me a couple nights ago at bedtime.  Why so angry? Because he didn’t get ice cream after throwing water on his brother.  Right after our “Love at Home” family home evening lesson.)

So I guess I just have to really count on the Holy Ghost to take it from here?  Either that or the ethereal hope that when he gets older, he’ll like me again and his heart will be flooded with all the things I taught him over the years and he’ll turn out all great and stuff.  Oh boy, Holy Ghost, work your magic.  Some of you experienced mothers out there better tell me that this is going to be just fine.

Stuff that just needs to be said

Posted in Diapers by

This week will be our first Find-a-Friend Friday and we’ll all meet a new blog friend.  To all of you who “applied” for the honor, you made it!  It’s a long list, but I’ll get to you eventually.  If you missed it, go back and check out the new plan and add yourself to the list if you’re interested in playing along.

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I almost feel like I owe a small apology about my post yesterday.  I still stand by a lot of the points, but in my attempt to say that we all need to be more forgiving of each other, I also kind of lumped the people in the “statistics” into a category of people who don’t get it, which I didn’t mean to do or say or imply.  I joked with a friend that we all need to study this talk by President Monson over and over and over again until we start to realize that we can NOT judge others unless we know their hearts, which we usually don’t.  It’s hard to do, especially when we think we’re right about something, but we need to extend the same kind of forgiving mercy that we hope to receive in return.  (And the less we think we need it, the more we probably do.)

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After I declared my undying love for Enrique Iglesias on my Things I Love post the other day, one of his songs showed up in my Pandora feed and it was VULGAR.  And then I felt really stupid.  So just in case you were all thinking I’m some kind of closet listener to explicit music, I’m not.  At least not on purpose.  I still love his old-school Spanish stuff.  But please don’t run out and buy his latest stuff on my recommendation. Please.  Okay, thanks.

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This is not any kind of formal announcement or anything, but last week I decided I wanted to write a book about motherhood.  Not a how-to book, but more about the doctrine of motherhood.  Of course, as soon as I started writing it, my children were possessed by demons and I’ve spent most of my time trying to hide from them or sending them to their rooms.  So then I felt like “Who in the world do I think I am trying to write a book about motherhood when I don’t even like my children?”  (I do, of course, really love my children, but you know, there are days . . . ).  If I could only learn to be as patient with them as God is with me.  So we’ll see how that all pans out.

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And finally, as a public service announcement, if you stay up too late relishing the child-free time you have, you’ll always pay for it in the morning.  Just go to bed and get your sleep so that you can deal with the next day better than the day before.  The “freedom” feels great at midnight, but it hurts come morning.  And have you ever noticed that if you try to get away with it anyway, your children will always wake up at least a half hour earlier than normal just to rub it in?  You’re welcome.

Botox and Prozac and Diets, Oh My!

Posted in Divinity by

When my brother was in the hospital, I got to drive up and down the freeway many times. I soon became familiar with all the billboards. This was one of my favorites (and by favorites, I mean it made me want to beat people up.): A lovely, buxom woman smiled down upon us shapeless freeway drivers through the huge words, “All I want for Christmas is my two front … .” The meaning behind “…” became clear as you read the name and number of the Plastic Surgery Clinic that she was referring you to.

When we were house hunting in Utah, we tried to make an appointment for a second showing of a house we were interested in.  The Realtor informed us that we could not come until after 3 p.m., because the homeowner was hosting an eyelash extension party.  Excuse me, a what? I had never even heard of such a thing in my life.  I have since seen and heard about this phenomenon many, many times.

I read this article this morning, and I found it really interesting.  I recommend it.  It reported:

Though no religion-specific data exists to show rates of eating disorders or body image issues, numerous accounts from diligent parents, priesthood and auxiliary leaders of struggling girls, and women speak for themselves. And one of Forbes magazine’s annual rankings may indicate that our quest for perfection took a wrong turn somewhere along the way: Salt Lake City, home to the worldwide headquarters of the LDS Church (and where an estimated 50 percent of the population is LDS), was ranked the “Vainest City in the Nation” in 2007 and 2008, and was in the Top 5 in 2009. This ranking is due to the city’s record-breaking amount spent on beauty products and treatments like Botox, an amount that is ten-fold the amount spent in cities of comparable size. If you’ve looked at the billboards along any Utah freeway, you won’t be shocked to hear Salt Lake City has the most plastic surgeons per capita, at six per 100,000 residents, trumping New York City and Los Angeles.

Why?  I don’t get it.  Of all the people in the world, we should be the most embracing of our God-given selves.  Though the LDS doctrine does teach us to strive for perfection, with an emphasis on following the example of Jesus Christ, it absolutely does not teach or endorse that we should make our bodies measure up to society’s definition of perfection.  In fact, Elder Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said the following:

I plead with you young women to please be more accepting of yourselves, including your body shape and style, with a little less longing to look like someone else. We are all different. . . . In terms of preoccupation with self and a fixation on the physical, this is more than social insanity; it is spiritually destructive, and it accounts for much of the unhappiness women, including young women, face in the modern world. And if adults are preoccupied with appearance—tucking and nipping and implanting and remodeling everything that can be remodeled—those pressures and anxieties will certainly seep through to children. At some point the problem becomes what the Book of Mormon called “vain imaginations.” And in secular society both vanity and imagination run wild. One would truly need a great and spacious makeup kit to compete with beauty as portrayed in media all around us.

You may have heard before that Utah also leads the country in the use of anti-depressants.  This is, again, a mystery.  There are some who argue that it’s probably a product of the high expectations of the LDS church culture and people feeling like they don’t measure up.  I don’t buy that, because a careful study of any of the counsel that comes from the general leadership of the church never has that kind of tone.  On the contrary, there are consistently messages of love, encouragement, and acknowledgment of our goodness and power and influence.  This is especially true for women.  Not anywhere else do you find more empowering words or praise for womanhood than you do from our own pulpits.  There are also myriad talks about adversity, challenges and tribulation, and how to deal with them, which clearly eliminates the expectation of living enchanted, perfect lives.  So what gives?

I’m obviously not an expert on these sociological matters, but I think I can see where some of this struggle originates.  LDS women are like other women throughout the world; we have struggles and sadness and insecurities.  There are also rampant mental health issues throughout our society, to which we are not immuned.  As I have become more and more of an adult, I have begun to see how many people, including many friends and family, struggle with depression, anxiety and consistently high stress.  Life is a pressure cooker that seems to take a great toll on our mental health.  We often need help.  It is safe to say that we all self-medicate.  When pressures are high and our ability to deal with them feels low, we turn to something to help us feel better.  Within the LDS faith, because of our doctrinal principles, we do not turn to the same things that many, many other people turn to in times of stress– drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, pornography or self-serving sexual behaviors, for example.  Perhaps our anti-depressant numbers are seemingly skewed because of this.  Other people with the same struggles self-medicate differently.  (I want to make clear that I do not have an anti-medication stance.  At all.)  Perhaps this also explains, in part, the obsession with beauty issues.  When women feel overwhelmed and empty, they look for ways to make themselves feel better, and for LDS women, fake eyelashes is not “against our religion.”  Whatever the reasons, which I really don’t know, I think we all need to do a better job of turning to the right place for help.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:38

I am not advocating throwing out your mascara or your Prozac and just dedicating yourself to scripture study.  That would be naive.  I do think that no matter what level of struggles we face, we can find much more relief the more and more we learn to rely upon the Savior.  We will find more sense of self-worth.  We will find forgiveness for our imperfections.  We will find strength in our trials. We will find love and acceptance and be filled in the places we feel empty.  A careful study of all those Your-Life-Will-Not-Be-Perfect-So-Be-Prepared talks that come from the general leadership of the church will point us in the direction of Jesus Christ.  So this is basically a war cry to LDS women everywhere:  When life hurts, and it will, you are not alone.  Turn to your Savior and let Him share your burdens and remind you how beautiful you are, just as you are.  As a completely average, A-cup, almost 20 pound “overweight,” frazzled mother of young children who’s still wearing my pajamas, I give you my word that it works.  It really does.  Let’s get a few billboards for that.

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GCBC Week 18: Two Lines of Communication

Posted in General Conference Book Club by

Holy cow.  Has it really been 18 weeks since General Conference?  Crazy.

This talk is a talk I’m excited to go back and read because (for me) it was a tiny bit difficult to follow while listening to it.  I’m just looking forward to studying it on paper so I categorize the different points.

“Two Lines of Communication”
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Of the Quorum of the Twelve

What did you learn and/or understand better from this talk?  What did you feel like it encouraged you to do?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

(If this is your first time to General Conference Book Club, click here to learn more about it.)